Miner&#39;s lamp tool



. H.. W. HOFF. MINERS LAMP TOOL APPLICATION FILED NOV- 9, 1921.

- Patented Apr. 11, 192 2.

HEEIVIAN F7. HOFF, BEARCREEK, IflONTANA. I

MINEBS LAMP TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

Application filed November 9, 1821. Serial Ho. 513,396.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN it". Horn, a citizen of the United States, residing Bearcreek, in the county of Carbon and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Miners Lamp Tool; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrr tion or the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art toiwhich it appertains make and use the same.

The acetylene lamps generally used by miners corrode at the outlet and require to is cleaned. This is usually effected by means of a needle.

The present invention provides a tool specially designed for the purpose aforesaid which when not in use may be attached to the clothing, so as to be readily at hand when needed, and which houses the needle to protect it and prevent the same catching into the clothing or other object or injuring the person.

Other objects and advantages w parent and suggest themselves as t of the invention is understood.

lVhile the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.

Figure l is a side view of a device of the nature aforesaid embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof,

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View of the body disassociated from the cooperating parts,

Figure l is a detail view of the aws, and

Figure is a detail view of the needle.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The needle 1 is tapering and slender and is of polygonal form in cross section, preferably square, to provide cutting edges.

The holder for the needle 1 comprises a body 2 having an intermediate and end portions reduced as indicated at 3 and d. The end portion 4 is externally screw threaded ill be aphe nature The aws 6 are connected at their inner ends, as indicated at 7, and their outer ends are beveled or tapered to form inclined surfaces whereby to contract the jaws and cause them to grip the needle 1. The jaws are preferably formed of, a strip which is doubled upon itself, the fold? being suiiiciently thin and. elastic to normally hold'the gripping ends of the jaws spread. Vvhen the jaws 6 are in position in the slot 5, their tapering ends project beyond the threaded end 4 of the body 2 so as to ride upon the tapered end 8 of an internally threaded cap 9 mounted upon the threaded end l of the body 2. An opening 10 is formed in the tapered end 8 of the cap 9 to receive the needle 1. The external diameter of the cap 9 corresponds with the diameter of the intermediate reduced portion 3 of the body 2, whereby, a casing 11 may slip over the cap 9 and reduced portion 3 and frictionally engage the same whereby to hold the casing in position. The outer side of the casing 11 comes flush with the outer side of the body 2. A safety-pin 12 is applied to the casing 11 and serves as convenient means for attaching the device to the clothing of the miner, whereby the tool may be conveniently at hand when required for use. The casing 11 forms a housing for the needle 1 and prevents injury thereto and the same from catching into an object or injuring the person. When the cap 9 is unscrewed from the reduced portion l of the body 2, the gripping ends of the jaws 6 spread, thereby admitting of the needle 1 being placed in position, or removed, as required. After the needle has been placed in position, the cap 9 is screwed upon the part i of the body 2, and its tapered end 8 riding upon the inclined or beveled ends ofthe jaws 6 compress the latter and cause the same to grip the needle and retain it in place. The use of the tool is well understood. Suiiice to state that when the outlet of an acetylene lamp, such as used by miners, becomes corroded or otherwise fouled it may be cleaned by introducing the needle therein and simultaneously advancing and rotating the tool, the sharp corners of the needle acting as cutters to enlarge the outlet.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A device of the character specified comprising a body having an intermediate and end portions reduced, and having the re duced end portion externally screw threaded and formed with a longitudinal slot, aws

disposed in said slot and having their gripping ends projecting and tapered a screw cap mounted upon the threaded portion of the body and having its outer end made tapering to coact with the tapering ends of the jaws whereby to contract the latter to grip an article placed therebetween, and a I casing engaging the screw cap and the intermediate reduced portion of the'body and having a safety pin applied thereto.

2. A device of the character specified comprising a body having an intermediate and end' portions reduced, the latter being externally screw threaded and formed with a slot, connected j aws disposed within said slot and having their outer ends projecting and made tapering, a screw cap mounted upon the HER-MAN W. HOFF Witnesses RICHARD KorPnR, EDWARD C. GUENTHER. 

